Long wait is over as exam results arrive

School pupils from across South Lanarkshire received their SQA results this week without sitting a final exam.

Students from schools in the area joined more than 138,000 pupils across Scotland in receiving full results of their Nationals, Highers and Advanced Highers on Tuesday.

And in this unique year results were opened with a different kind of nervousness and anxiety.

That’s after schools across Scotland closed in the middle of March because of the coronavirus pandemic, with education secretary John Swinney announcing pupils would not sit exams for attainment.

The deputy first minister instead confirmed that results would be based on a combination of teacher estimates and national moderation.

So what was it like waiting for results without actually having sat a single exam?

Shannon Costello, of Calderglen High, said she feared she would suffer based on her performance in her prelims – but it turns out she need not have worried.

The 17-year-old told the News on Tuesday morning: “I was really nervous because I didn’t sit any final exams.

“I thought I could have done better in my prelims and I would have liked to have sat my exams to prove that.

“But I wasn’t expecting five As – I wasn’t expecting four either to be honest.”

Shannon secured four As in maths, biology, chemistry and music, backing that up with a B in English.

She will now return to sixth year when schools reopen next week, sitting Advanced Highers in maths, biology, and chemistry and hopes to study medicine at Aberdeen or Glasgow universities.

Education bosses at the local authority say they are pleased with performance levels, which point to “encouraging” pass levels.

Executive director of education, Tony McDaid, said: “Early indications are that overall results are positive.

“This year has of course been an unprecedented one and presented a very unique and challenging set of circumstances, particularly for those sitting exams.

“These achievements are a testament to the diligence and hard work of pupils and their teachers, not forgetting the support provided by parents and carers, which all help to demonstrate that young people do have high ambitions and are achieving success.

“Support and guidance is on hand to help all pupils, no matter their results, to talk through their next step and to build on their achievements in a positive way.”

Meanwhile in neighbouring East Renfrewshire – which covers Eaglesham and Waterfoot – 77 per cent of S4 pupils achieved five or more National 5 or better, with 94 per cent achieving five or more National 4 or better.

Improving on 81 per cent last year, 85 per cent of S5 pupils achieved one or more Highers, 69 per cent getting three or more, and 46 per cent five or more.

Just of 40 per cent – 42 per cent – of S6 pupils achieved one or more Advanced Higher.

Nationally, the pass rate for National 5 this year was 81.1 per cent, with 78.9 per cent passing Higher exams and 84.9 per cent passing Advanced Highers.

That compares with the 2019 pass rates of 78.2 per cent, 74.8 per cent, and 79.4 per cent respectively.